Samantha Sutton and the Winter of the Warrior Queen

December 15, 2013
Off on another expedition with her archaeologist Uncle Jay, 12-year-old Samantha Sutton is caught up in a plot to ruin his career. Unless her uncle's excavations turn up valuable historic relics under Wardy Hill, its owner, Sir Cairn Catesby, plans to build a Roman-style theme park there, where locals believe legendary warrior-queen Boudicca lived and died, outside present-day Cambridge, England. As in series opener Samantha Sutton and the Labyrinth of Lies (2012), the archaeologist-author describes field research in loving detail, contrasting the careful work of scientists with the depredations of treasure hunters with metal detectors. But his depictions of the archaeological community, including Sir Cairn (a professor of archaeology at Cambridge) and Samantha's own family, are far less positive. Her unreliable uncle makes enemies everywhere. They're willing to sabotage his work and even threaten his niece and nephew. The suspense begins with an opening prologue: Samantha's last desperate escape through a snowy night. As the events of the story unfold, there are peaceful moments--evensong at Kings College Chapel, rowing on the Cam in the early mornings, sharing the view from the chapel tower with new friend Graham Aubrey--as well as an increasing sense of danger. An enemy made in a previous story turns up again, and Samantha begins, not unreasonably, to fear for her life. An archaeological adventure with almost too much suspense. (Adventure. 10-14)

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March 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-Samantha has barely shaken off her archaeological escapades in Peru when her Uncle Jay is back to collect her and her brother Evan to head to Cambridge for a new dig. Cambridge is Jay's old stomping grounds, and he promises the dig on Wardy Hill will be more run of the mill than their last adventure. It is soon revealed that Jay's old professor, Catesby, has been newly elevated in title and owns the site. Catesby's aspirations are fiscal rather than scientific, and he plans to rush the dig and get his Roman theme park on the land as soon as possible. The only way to stop this is to find an important artifact on site, something that Catesby will go to great lengths to ensure doesn't happen. As Samantha learns more about the history of the area and the possibility of the warrior queen Boudica's presence, she can't help but hope to find something significant. It soon becomes apparent that someone will go to great lengths-and is even willing to harm the archaeologists-to make sure things go in Catesby's favor. Each fast-paced chapter begins with a page from Samantha's prized notebook, complete with illustrations, bits of historical information, and foreshadowing tidbits. Samantha is a refreshingly capable and brave protagonist who relies on her wits to get her out of situations well beyond her 12 years. Reluctant readers and history buffs alike should enjoy the cliff-hanger ending in this adventurous romp.-Stacy Dillon, LREI, New York City

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